Greetings from GA

General Assembly prep is going well here in Memphis. The Federal Vision controversy will clearly be the big issue here. That is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. The following declarations and recommendations will be before the Assembly.

1 IV. Declarations

2

3 In light of the controversy surrounding the NPP and FV, and after many months of careful

4 study, the committee unanimously makes the following declarations:

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6 1. The view that rejects the bi-covenantal structure of Scripture as represented in the

7 Westminster Standards (i.e., views which do not merely take issue with the terminology,

8 but the essence of the first/second covenant framework) is contrary to those Standards.

9

10 2. The view that an individual is “elect” by virtue of his membership in the visible church;

11 and that this “election” includes justification, adoption and sanctification; but that this

12 individual could lose his “election” if he forsakes the visible church, is contrary to the

13 Westminster Standards.

14

15 3. The view that Christ does not stand as a representative head whose perfect obedience

16 and satisfaction is imputed to individuals who believe in him is contrary to the

17 Westminster Standards.

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19 4. The view that strikes the language of “merit” from our theological vocabulary so that the

20 claim is made that Christ’s merits are not imputed to his people is contrary to the

21 Westminster Standards.

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23 5. The view that “union with Christ” renders imputation redundant because it subsumes all

24 of Christ’s benefits (including justification) under this doctrinal heading is contrary to

25 the Westminster Standards.

26

27 6. The view that water baptism effects a “covenantal union” with Christ through which

28 each baptized person receives the saving benefits of Christ’s mediation, including

29 regeneration, justification, and sanctification, thus creating a parallel soteriological

30 system to the decretal system of the Westminster Standards, is contrary to the

31 Westminster Standards.

32

33 7. The view that one can be “united to Christ” and not receive all the benefits of Christ’s

34 mediation, including perseverance, in that effectual union is contrary to the Westminster

35 Standards.

36

37 8. The view that some can receive saving benefits of Christ’s mediation, such as

38 regeneration and justification, and yet not persevere in those benefits is contrary to the

39 Westminster Standards.

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41 9. The view that justification is in any way based on our works, or that the so-called “final

42 verdict of justification” is based on anything other than the perfect obedience and

43 satisfaction of Christ received through faith alone, is contrary to the Westminster

44 Standards.

45

Supplement: ADDITION

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1 V. Recommendations

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3 1. That the General Assembly commend to Ruling and Teaching Elders and their

4 congregations this report of the Ad Interim Committee on NPP, AAT and FV for careful

5 consideration and study.

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7 2. That the General Assembly remind the Church, its officers and congregations of the

8 provisions of BCO 29-1 and 39-3 which assert that the Confession of Faith and the

9 Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly, while “subordinate to the

10 Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the inerrant Word of God,” have been

11 adopted by the PCA “as standard expositions of the teachings of Scripture in relation to

12 both faith and practice.”

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14 3. That the General Assembly recommend the declarations in this report as a faithful

15 exposition of the Westminster Standards, and further reminds those ruling and teaching

16 elders whose views are out of accord with our Standards of their obligation to make

17 known to their courts any differences in their views.

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19 4. That the General Assembly remind the Sessions and Presbyteries of the PCA that it is

20 their duty “to exercise care over those subject to their authority” and “to condemn

21 erroneous opinions which injure the purity or peace of the Church” (BCO 31-2; 13-9f).

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23 5. That the Ad Interim Study Committee on NPP, AAT and FV be dismissed with thanks.